Mariah Hepworth

Dr. Mariah Hepworth serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of History & Political Science at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA), where she specializes in modern U.S. cultural history with emphasis on media-war intersections and 20th-century societal issues.

Education:

• Ph.D. in History, Northwestern University (2019)
• M.A. in History, Northwestern University (2013)
• B.A. in History, Seattle University (2010)

Research Focus: Her scholarship examines how American cinema shapes public understanding of war, particularly through her manuscript 'When the Bestial War Shall Rule No More': D.W. Griffith, World War I, and the Antiwar War Film. She investigates historical connections between commercial media, foreign policy, and cultural identity, analyzing how films mediated societal responses to conflict across the 20th-21st centuries. Her approach bridges film studies, diplomatic history, and cultural analysis.

Teaching Portfolio: Courses include HIST 114 (U.S. History Since 1877), HIST 320 variants (U.S. Cultural History Through Film, The 1920s in America, America’s Many 1950s, Cultural History of American Sports), and advanced seminars like HIST 401 (History of the American Soldier) and HIST 403 (History of American Celebrity).

Advising and Professional Activities: Dr. Hepworth mentors undergraduate history majors in research and honors projects. While specific grant funding isn't detailed, her manuscript development indicates active scholarly work. Office hours are held Mondays/Wednesdays 3:30-4:30 pm and Tuesdays 4:00-5:00 pm in History House, Room 8 (spring 2025).